One way we can tell if something is done in love or not, is to ask ourselves if it is inclusive or exclusive.

This seems an easier question when practiced individually. For instance, I can easily judge my own actions and motives and determine if they are inclusive or not, and match up with my personal values.

But it becomes harder to live this in our global systems, whether that be governments, corporations, religious groups, educational systems or any other groups. These systems often benefit the few and leave everyone else out in the cold. They contradict what we hold dear individually, and most shockingly, we seem ok with it and deem our values irrelevant because that is what needs to be done if we want to ensure the economy thrives, and our belief system stays intact, and (insert any other terrifying disaster) does not come to pass. At least that is what we have come to accept. We think that we must either play along, or fall into chaos. It’s either this or that.

How do we reconcile that? How do we cherish the truth which love; love for humanity, love for all living creatures, love for our planet reveals, and continue to buy into a system that serves the few and excludes the many? Is it really only this or that, or is there another way?

One way we can tell if something is done in love or not, is to ask ourselves if it is inclusive or exclusive.

There is nothing quite as centering for me as nature, and one doesn’t have to travel to the middle of nowhere to see it. Nature, it seems, regardless of how we dispose of it, comes back again and again.

My friend Helga and I set out on foot to check out the new and improved St. Patrick’s Island on Sunday afternoon.

We left her Inglewood home shortly after 1PM and headed to the Bow Pathway by the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

We followed the pathway along the Bow River toward the Weir.

The Weir had been reconstructed to create a whitewater adventure for Kayakers, but unfortunately the 2013 flood undid all the hard work that was done for this project.

Just below the Weir, if you squint you can see seagulls perched on the rocks.

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the new outlook that was built at the Weir though, and we climbed the stairs to admire the view.

We climbed the stairs to the lookout

It was a perfect day for a walk.

The lookout, mostly constructed with stone, includes comfortable benches and little nooks and crannies that I have no doubt delight and capture the imagination of children who visit.

The fast flowing river below and gentle cool breeze blowing through my hair on this 25c/77f day filled me with such a sense of contentment.

View from the top of the stairs

From the Weir we continued down the pathway until we reached 12th Street to cross the bridge to the zoo.

From there we continued east through the back parking lot to the entrance of St. Patrick’s Island.

To be honest, I wasn’t getting my hopes up. I was skeptical about the rebuild of St. Patrick’s Island. I was nervous that it might be turned into a concrete park.

But they did a good job!

From the tables at the entrance laid out with board games inviting people to sit and play, to the natural pathway along the river, to picnic tables, and playgrounds, hills to roll down, Zen-like resting spots, and a beautiful wading area where we stopped to cool our feet in the water; the City of Calgary did good!

We decided to cross the bridge into the East Village to grab a coffee at Sebastian’s in the Old Simmons building, but the line-up was insane.

So we settled for a glass of cold water and sat down by the river listening to the music coming from the Opera House rehearsal.

View of the light art star (my name for it) from the bridge heading back to the island. I will have to go back to check it out at night with lights on!

Then we headed back over the bridge to retrace our steps back to Inglewood. I estimate that our Sunday walk was an 8 km round trip; and it was totally worth it!

The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists. – Charles Dickens

Have you ever found yourself sitting in a meadow by a stream, filling with delight, as a brilliantly blue butterfly lands near you? Or have you ever awoken before dawn and instead of grumbling about not being able to sleep longer, you decide to drink your morning coffee on a porch swing and are mesmerized by how the moon’s light is shimmering on a spider’s web? How about taking in the majesty and power of a thunderstorm and bearing witness to winds that bend the boughs of trees to the point of breaking as lightning fills the sky with light, brighter than any man-made light, and the thunder booms so loudly it rattles you to your core?

These types of moments fill me wonder and awe at the beauty of our world. They also remind me how small I am, how small the concerns and worries that I carry in my daily living are and how much, for even a brief moment, I want to be part of the beautiful symphony playing itself out before me. It turns out – I can be – and you can be too. These moments are a gift from the Creator to remind us of who we are and to invite us to be co-creators by joining in.

“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.” – Martha Graham

Cooking

I have become passionate about whole and natural foods and enjoy cooking from scratch! I love the textures and flavours of food; the way herbs and spices blend together into culinary delights and tickle the taste buds. I can’t tell you how many new recipes I’ve discovered but one of my most recent creations was a most delicious meal appropriately called Fragrant Curried Beef and Rice. But I didn’t stop there, I also made homemade Naan bread! Those who know me well are surprised, even shocked that I now love cooking but believe me, no more shocked than I am!

Stories

My Mom read to us often when we were little. It didn’t matter whether she read German books or English books – reading is reading. Books engaged my imagination by introducing me to places, people and things that I wouldn’t otherwise have encountered. In elementary school, my favourite subjects were reading and composition. When my homework assignment was the writing of a 3-page composition, I wrote 16 pages. Later I was blessed to be in a job where I wrote stories in newsletters, promotional materials, media releases/advisories, fundraising letters and so on. I love telling stories. Stories link us together. Our stories are woven with those of others and become part of a bigger story about our collective experiences; our suffering, our overcoming, our loves, our resentments, our forgiving, our grudges, our victories and losses, our giving and taking.

Creation or being creative comes from love and a close cousin to love is passion. Creation can be anything from the obvious; the making of a baby or as simple as a smile that can immediately create a new perspective or beginning for the person who receives it. Over the last year I have discovered a new creative love – cooking. And I have rediscovered and re-explored my love of stories.